EP0749561A1 - Appareil et procede permettant de refroidir des composants electroniques generant de la chaleur loges dans une armoire - Google Patents

Appareil et procede permettant de refroidir des composants electroniques generant de la chaleur loges dans une armoire

Info

Publication number
EP0749561A1
EP0749561A1 EP94915340A EP94915340A EP0749561A1 EP 0749561 A1 EP0749561 A1 EP 0749561A1 EP 94915340 A EP94915340 A EP 94915340A EP 94915340 A EP94915340 A EP 94915340A EP 0749561 A1 EP0749561 A1 EP 0749561A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cabinet
air
air flow
enclosure
heat generating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP94915340A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0749561A4 (fr
Inventor
Meredith C. Gourdine
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Aavid Thermal Products Inc
Original Assignee
Aavid Engineering Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Aavid Engineering Inc filed Critical Aavid Engineering Inc
Priority claimed from PCT/US1994/002763 external-priority patent/WO1995025255A1/fr
Publication of EP0749561A1 publication Critical patent/EP0749561A1/fr
Publication of EP0749561A4 publication Critical patent/EP0749561A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for cooling electronic heat generating components within a cabinet and more particularly to a method and apparatus for cooling electronic components wherein predetermined heat generating electronic components are isolated from other electronic components in the cabinet and the isolated components are cooled by a secondary air flow isolated from the primary air flow through the cabinet such that the non-isolated components and the isolated components are independently cooled by the primary air flow and secondary air flow, respectively, and the heat generated by the isolated components and non-isolated components is not mixed within the cabinet to maximize cooling of all components within the cabinet.
  • a common problem in electronic packaging is that the heat generated by the electronic components in the cabinet is detrimental to the components themselves, particularly integrated circuits and microprocessor chips in computer cabinets. Heat is normally removed by circulating air across the components by one or more low powered exhaust fans mounted in or on the computer cabinet.
  • the microprocessor chip in a computer generates a relatively large amount of heat and is susceptible to error or damage caused by overheating.
  • the Intel 80486 microprocessor chip generates 4.5 watts in normal operation and must be maintained below 85° C. or it can introduce error as well as reduce its operating life. Even newer chips will generate 15-30 watts.
  • a heat sink is often mounted on the top surface of the chip. Heat sinks are metal devices that have a plurality of fins or pins extending from a base which is mounted on the chip surface to radiate or transmit heat from the chip to the circulating air. The fins are usually aligned longitudinally with the prevalent direction of air flow and when the air flow direction is uncertain, pin-type heat sinks may be used.
  • the exhaust fan in a computer cabinet usually develops a single air flow path wherein air from the cabinet exterior is drawn in through inlet slots in the cabinet wall flows across the components including the heat sink and is exhausted through exhaust slots in the fan motor housing in another wall of the cabinet.
  • the heat sink is useful in cooling the microprocessor chip, the heat generated by the heat sink is mixed with the heat generated by the other components in the cabinet such that the effective cooling of all the components including the ones having heat sinks is diminished.
  • Japanese patent 56-148898 shows a circuit board that has a divider with raised walls with some components having a heat sink disposed inside the walls and some components outside the walls.
  • the board is installed in a slot in the computer chassis and air is drawn by the fan through the slots and through an angled inlet of the divider.
  • the divider wall elements are no taller than the fins of the heat sink and are positioned only on two sides. Thus, the divider does not enclose the heat generating components, and the air passing through the divider elements becomes heated by the first components and more heat is added by the successive heat generating components as the air travels downstream and is less effective in cooling the downstream components. This heated air will also pass over the divider walls and mix with the air drawn through the slots and will heat the air passing over the other components and throughout the cabinet such that effective cooling of all the components in the cabinet is diminished.
  • An IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Volume 19, No. 12, May 1977 discloses a method of fitting a heat generating module with an air shroud.
  • the air shroud has an inlet port connecting to a pressurized air line and an exhaust port which just exhausts air to the exterior of the shroud into the cabinet.
  • the high pressure, high velocity air is directed over the top surface and over the underside of the heat generating module (the chip, substrate, and can) .
  • the heat generating chip and substrate are enclosed by the can which serves as a heat sink and together they form the heat generating module. These components are enclosed in the shroud.
  • the hot air inside the can passes through the pins where it is transferred to the card column air flow in the cabinet.
  • the present invention overcomes the heating problem by isolating predetermined heat generating electronic components which may include those with heat sinks from other electronic components in the cabinet and providing a secondary air flow pathway from the air inlets across the isolated electronic components to the air outlets and exhaust fan.
  • the secondary air flow is isolated from the primary air flow.
  • the exhaust fan in or on the cabinet creates a primary air flow across the non-isolated components between the air inlets and air outlets in the cabinet and exhausts the air to the cabinet exterior, and simultaneously creates a separate secondary air flow through the secondary air flow pathway across the isolated heat generating components between the air inlets and air outlets in the cabinet and exhausts the secondary air flow to the cabinet exterior.
  • the non-isolated components and the isolated components are independently cooled by the primary air flow and secondary air flow, respectively, and the heat generated by the isolated components and non-isolated components is not mixed within the cabinet to maximize cooling of all components within the cabinet.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method for effectively cooling heat generating electronic components in a cabinet which isolates predetermined heat generating electronic components from other electronic components in the cabinet and provides a primary air flow across the non- isolated components, and simultaneously creates a separate secondary air flow through the secondary air flow pathway across the isolated heat generating components whereby the non-isolated components and the isolated components are independently cooled by the primary air flow and secondary air flow, respectively, and the heat generated by the isolated components and non-isolated components is not mixed within the cabinet to maximize cooling of all components within the cabinet.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a cabinet for housing electronic components which includes ductwork and an enclosure to enclose heat generating components and provide the enclosed components with a secondary air flow pathway across the isolated heat generating components whereby the non-isolated components and the isolated components are independently cooled by the primary air flow and secondary air flow, respectively, and the heat generated by the isolated components and non-isolated components is not mixed within the cabinet to maximize cooling of all components within the cabinet.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a cooling apparatus which will improve the thermal management system of cabinets containing heat generating electronic components.
  • a still further object of this invention is to provide a cooling apparatus for installation on heat generating electronic components which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.
  • an apparatus and method for cooling electronic components which isolates predetermined heat generating electronic components which may include those with heat sinks from other electronic components in a cabinet and provides a secondary air flow pathway from the cabinet exterior across the isolated electronic components which is isolated from the primary air flow throughout the cabinet.
  • the exhaust fan in or on the cabinet which creates a primary air flow across the non-isolated components between air inlets and outlets in the cabinet simultaneously draws air through the secondary air flow pathway across the isolated heat generating components and exhausts the secondary air flow to the cabinet exterior.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic elevation view of an integrated circuit chip with a heat sink mounted thereon showing the air flow path around the heat sink.
  • Fig. 2A is an exploded isometric view of an embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention being placed over an integrated circuit chip with a heat sink mounted thereon.
  • Fig. 2B is an isometric view of a heat sink having pins.
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of a computer cabinet with the apparatus in accordance with the present invention installed over a component to be cooled.
  • Fig. 4 is a side view in partial cross section of the component cooling enclosure being installed on an integrated circuit chip with a heat sink mounted thereon.
  • Fig. 5 is a side view in partial cross section of the component cooling enclosure being installed on an integrated circuit chip without a heat sink.
  • Fig. 6 is a side view in partial cross section of the component cooling enclosure being installed on an integrated circuit chip wherein the heat sink is mounted within the cooling enclosure and the assembly is installed as a unit.
  • Fig. 7A is a schematic side view in partial cross section of a cabinet having ductwork built into the cabinet with the cooling enclosure installed on the component to be cooled.
  • Fig. 7B is a schematic top view of the cabinet of Fig. 7A.
  • Integrated circuit chips such as microprocessor chips generate a relatively large amount of heat and are susceptible to error or damage caused by overheating.
  • the Intel 80486 microprocessor chip generates 4.5 watts in normal operation and must be maintained below 85° C. or it can introduce error as well as reduce its operating life due to overheating.
  • the integrated circuit chip is usually mounted with many other components on a circuit board in a cabinet which has a fan that draws air in from the cabinet exterior, circulates the air across all the electronic components, and then exhausts the air to the cabinet exterior in a single air flow path to cool the components.
  • a heat sink is often mounted on the top surface of the chip by thermal adhesive, mechanical slots, or a combination thereof.
  • the conventional heat sink is a metal device having a plurality of fins or pins extending from a base which is mounted on the chip surface to radiate or transmit heat from the chip to the circulating air.
  • the fins are usually aligned longitudinally with the prevalent direction of air flow and when the air flow direction is uncertain, pin-type heat sinks may be used.
  • FIG. 1 the air flow path through and around an integrated circuit chip C with a conventional heat sink H mounted thereon to assist heat removal from the integrated circuit chip.
  • FIG. 2A the heat sink H is shown with fins 5
  • Fig. 2B shows a heat sink with pins 6.
  • the cooling apparatus 10 has a hollow housing 11 formed of electrically non-conductive material configured to enclose the heat generating electronic component C.
  • the housing 11 is a box-like enclosure having opposed side walls 12, a top wall 13, and an open bottom end 14 defining an interior cavity 15.
  • An inlet port 16 is provided through one side wall and an outlet port 17 is provided through another side wall.
  • a length of flexible conduit 18 is connected at one end 18A to the inlet port 16 and another length of flexible conduit 19 is connected at one end 19A to the outlet port 17.
  • a length of flexible conduit 18 is connected at one end 18A to the inlet port 16 and another length of flexible conduit 19 is connected at one end 19A to the outlet port 17.
  • the housing 11 may be sized to enclose more than one component.
  • the free end 18B of the conduit 18 is adapted to be releasably attached to the side wall of a cabinet 30 in which the component C to be cooled is mounted and in fluid communication with at least one inlet slot of the cabinet through which fresh air normally enters.
  • the free end 19B of the conduit 19 is adapted to be releasably attached to the housing of the exhaust fan F in or on the cabinet in which the component to be cooled is mounted and in fluid communication with at least one exhaust slot of the fan housing through which cabinet air is exhausted.
  • Suitable mounting hardware such as clips 20, may be secured to the free ends of the conduits 18 and 19 for attaching their free ends to the cabinet side wall and fan housing, respectively.
  • the free ends 18B and 19B of the conduits 18 and 19 may be simply inserted in the inlet and exhaust slots without requiring mounting hardware.
  • Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the cooling enclosure 11 wherein the component to be enclosed is an integrated circuit chip C having a heat sink H with fins 5 mounted thereon.
  • the open bottom end 14 of the housing or cooling enclosure 11 is configured to engage the top surface or sides of the component C to be cooled and the interior cavity 15 is sized to enclose the component leaving a space between the top of the component and the top wall 13 of the enclosure.
  • the inlet and outlet ports 16 and 17 may be axially offset from one another to facilitate circulation of the air in the cavity 15.
  • the height of the inlet and outlet ports 16 and 17 are located relative to the heat sink to direct most of the air flow through the fins 5 or pins 6 rather than around the fins or pins to achieve greater cooling.
  • the open bottom end 14 of the cooling enclosure 10 may be dimensioned to frictionally engage the sides of the component to be cooled, or may be installed on the component using a suitable flexible thermal adhesive.
  • Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of the cooling enclosure 11 wherein the component to be enclosed is an integrated circuit chip C without a heat sink. In this application, the open bottom end 14 of the enclosure 11 is configured to engage the sides of the chip C. A suitable thermal adhesive may be applied to the chip C to secure the enclosure 11 thereon.
  • Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the cooling enclosure 11 wherein a heat sink is installed in the enclosure cavity 15 and the enclosure and heat sink assembly is supplied as a single unit to be mounted on the component to be cooled (integrated circuit chip C) .
  • the heat sink H is secured within the open end 14 of the enclosure 10 with its fins 5 or pins 6 extending upwardly into the cavity 15 of the enclosure.
  • the fins are aligned longitudinally with the prevalent direction of air flow between the inlet and outlet ports 16 and 17.
  • a pin-type heat sink as shown in Fig. 2B, may be installed in the enclosure 11.
  • the flat bottom of the heat sink H is mounted on the top surface of the chip C by conventional means, such as a suitable thermal adhesive, mechanical slots, or a combination thereof.
  • the cooling enclosure 11 may be cylindrical or configured otherwise to conform to the shape of the component to be cooled.
  • the conduits 18 and 19 may be rigid, or that air passageways may be built into the cabinet chassis and connected to the component enclosure. Referring again to Fig. 3, when the cabinet exhaust fan F is operating, a major portion of the outside air flows over the non-isolated components in the cabinet and through the exhaust slots in the fan housing.
  • a small portion of outside air, or secondary air flow is drawn into the free end 18B of the conduit 18 from the air inlet slot in the cabinet and passes through the conduit into the enclosure 11 and across the isolated component C and through the outlet conduit 19 to be exhausted by the fan.
  • the secondary air flow entering the enclosure 11 flows over the isolated component, and if the component has a heat sink, the air flows directly through the fins 5 or pins 6 of the heat sink.
  • Figs. 7A and 7B show a cabinet 30 which has air passageways built into the cabinet chassis to form the secondary air passageway.
  • the component C to be cooled is mounted on a circuit board 7 in the cabinet 30 or other means conventional in the art.
  • the cabinet 30 is provided with a system of conduit or hollow ductwork 31.
  • the conduit or ductwork 31 has an air intake portion 31A which extends from the side wall of the cabinet containing the air inlet slots and an air outlet portion 3IB which extends from the component C to the housing of the exhaust fan F.
  • the air intake portion 31A of the ductwork 31 has one open end 31C positioned in fluid communication with at least one air inlet slot of the cabinet and another open end 3ID positioned adjacent the component C.
  • the air outlet portion 3IB of the ductwork 31 has an open end 3IE positioned in fluid communication with the housing of the exhaust fan F such that the fan will draw air through the ductwork and another open end 3IF positioned adjacent the component C.
  • the cooling enclosure 11A has side walls 12, a top wall 13, an open bottom end 14, and an interior cavity 15 configured to enclose the component C to be cooled.
  • the side walls 12 of the enclosure are configured to surround the open ends 3ID and 3IF of the ductwork 31 adjacent the component C to be cooled.
  • a secondary air flow is drawn into the open end 31C of the ductwork from the air inlet slot in the cabinet and passes through the ductwork into the enclosure 11A covering the isolated component C and through the outlet portion of the ductwork to be exhausted by the fan.
  • the secondary air flow entering the enclosure flows over the isolated component C, and if the component has a heat sink H, the air flows directly through the fins 5 or pins 6 of the heat sink.
  • the enclosure 11A may have inlet and outlet ports through the side walls, as previously described, which can be connected to the open ends of the ductwork.
  • the enclosure 11A may also have a heat sink mounted in the interior cavity 15 and be installed as a unit on the component to be cooled.
  • the effectiveness of the present focused flow technique in providing greater cooling was tested by removing a microprocessor chip generating only 0.4 W from a PC computer and replacing it with a simulated Intel 80486 microprocessor chip (Intel Corporation) and heat sink generating 4.5 W.
  • a conventional metal finned heat sink was enclosed by a box-like cooling enclosure similar to that shown in Fig. 2.
  • a first temperature was obtained with the inlet and outlet conduits disconnected. With the computer and fan running and no air flow through the component enclosure, the temperature of the chip and heat sink rose to a temperature T s of 80° C.
  • test results demonstrate that by isolating the chip and heat sink and subjecting the component to a separate secondary air flow greatly improves cooling and is a very cost effective method of improving the thermal management system of cabinets containing heat generating components.
  • the present apparatus does not require modification of the existing equipment. By preventing the mixing of the hot air from the isolated component with the rest of the air circulating through the cabinet, both air flows cool the surfaces they contact more effectively, thereby increasing the overall effectiveness of cooling by the exhaust fan. Additional benefits of the improved cooling method include; the reduction of errors in integrated circuit chips due to chip overheating, increased useful life of the chip, and the capability of operating at higher chip speeds without overheating.

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  • Cooling Or The Like Of Electrical Apparatus (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne une armoire (30) comprenant un ventilateur aspirant (V) qui crée un premier écoulement d'air autour de composants électroniques générant de la chaleur, cette armoire étant pourvue d'une enceinte de refroidissement (11) qui entoure des composants prédéterminés (C) pour les isoler des autres composants situés dans ladite armoire (30). Un conduit (18) d'entrée d'air relie l'enceinte de refroidissement aux voies d'entrée d'air de l'armoire (30) et un conduit (19) de sortie d'air relie l'enceinte de refroidissement aux voies de sortie d'air de l'armoire (30) et du ventilateur (V) pour définir un deuxième écoulement d'air autour des composants isolés (C). Le ventilateur (V) produisant le premier écoulement d'air autour des composants non isolés produit simultanément le deuxième écoulement d'air autour des composants isolés (C), la chaleur produite par les composants isolés (C) et les composants non isolés ne se mélangeant pas pour maximiser le refroidissement de tous les composants placés dans l'armoire (30). L'enceinte de refroidissement (11) peut également contenir un dissipateur de chaleur (D).
EP94915340A 1994-03-15 1994-03-15 Appareil et procede permettant de refroidir des composants electroniques generant de la chaleur loges dans une armoire Withdrawn EP0749561A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1994/002763 WO1995025255A1 (fr) 1992-09-28 1994-03-15 Appareil et procede permettant de refroidir des composants electroniques generant de la chaleur loges dans une armoire

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0749561A1 true EP0749561A1 (fr) 1996-12-27
EP0749561A4 EP0749561A4 (fr) 1997-07-23

Family

ID=1340783

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94915340A Withdrawn EP0749561A4 (fr) 1994-03-15 1994-03-15 Appareil et procede permettant de refroidir des composants electroniques generant de la chaleur loges dans une armoire

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0749561A4 (fr)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
No further relevant documents disclosed *
See also references of WO9525255A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0749561A4 (fr) 1997-07-23

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